Beach & Bay Press, March 17th, 2011 by San Diego Community Newspaper Group

www.BeachandBayPress.com | Thursday, March 17, 2011

Pacific Beach family puts on winning show at IndieFest

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“The Little Match Makers” claimed the honor of “Best Feature Film” at the seventh annual San Diego IndieFest at Liberty Station in Point Loma on March 13 — and a proud Pacific Beach mom had a major hand in the film’s financial backing. The independent film was brought to fruition because of Esperanza Ferdden’s ability to step up to the plate to aid her son, Mario Ortiz, the flick’s co-director/producer/cinematographer. Ferdden tried to avoid the spotlight during the red carpet walk at the film festival, downplaying her role in making the film happen. But she couldn’t contain her smile. “My son has won three Esperanza Ferdden of Pacific Emmy awards,” Ferrden said. Beach, left, walks the red car“He wanted to do this movie pet at San Diego IndieFest on with his friend, Agustin Cas- Sunday. Photo by Bill Swank taneda. They had a money guy, but then nothing. I just did what a mother would do. I was the hotel, cook and cleaner. Most of the film was made in Pacific Beach. We love PB. I’ve never done anything like this before. This was a family thing and it’s a family film.” Hoping to recoup her investment, Ferdden said “‘The Little Match Makers” will come out on a DVD in June in time for Father’s Day. Obtain a copy at Wal-Mart, Target or Best Buy.” — Bill Swank

Connor Koper, a visitor from Arizona, performs a "Superman" move at the Wave House flowrider on March 14 by pushing his bodyboard away from him PHOTO BY DON BALCH I Beach & Bay Press and letting the current push it back to him.

City on verge of Rose Creek Bridge construction work Construction on the much-anticipated Rose Creek Bridge may begin in mid-April, according to city project managers. Almost a decade in the making, the bridge represents a major component in the completion of a pedestrian loop around Mission Bay along Pacific Beach Drive. “The real purpose is providing a safe bicycle-riding and pedestrian bridge that’s taken years to do,” said Pacific Beach Planning Board member Don Gross. “[When complete] moms won’t have to push their strollers on the street.” Gross has been one of the residents pushing the project through the city process.

As things are now, pedestrians walking along Pacific Beach Drive around the bay have to jump onto Garnet Avenue and find a way back to a path around the bay. The bridge over Rose Creek would provide a more convenient and safer way to traverse the creek bed, according to advocates. The project passed through years of red tape and environmental regulations before getting to the brink of construction, said Jeff Soriano, city project manager with the Engineering and Capital Projects Department. With a price tag of about $3 million, the project should take about 180 working days, according Soriano. City staff will be keeping a close eye on the project. “Field staff will be handling inspection,”

Soriano said. “They’ll be issuing and reviewing the invoices when the contractor has finished some of its services.” Soriano said a ground-breaking ceremony will be scheduled as soon as a notice to proceed is issued from the city and a preconstruction meeting has taken place. Soriano said he expects that to happen by mid-April. While the city has been working slowly but surely through the unavoidable regulatory and fiscal hurdles over the last decade, planners and residents like Gross are ready to breathe a sigh of relief once the project starts. “[The bridge] is probably the biggest project in Pacific Beach in the last 15 years,” he said. “It’s exciting.”

PB Planning Group sets March 23 elections Ten seats will be up for election on Wednesday, March 23 when the Pacific Beach Planning Group (PBPG) hosts its annual balloting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pacific Beach/Taylor Branch Library. Pacific Beach residents, property owners and businesses are eligible to vote. The PBPG is a 20-member volunteer board that advises the city on new development projects, parking, traffic, future planning and other issues related to the Pacific Beach Community Plan. The election takes place at the library, located at 4275 Cass St. For more information, visit www.pbplanning.org.